Oxford Utd 0, Grimsby Tn 0 Oxford United's problems remain striking.

They half-solved their worries by keeping their first clean sheet of the season, but as an attacking force they were woeful.

For the first time since I've been covering Oxford United for the Oxford Mail, some 11 years, they failed to manage a single shot on target in a home game.

Grimsby went on to create nearly all the game's scoring chances and only some typically strong defending from Phil Gilchrist and a series of fine saves by Phil Whitehead brought United a point.

The match might easily have been very different, though.

Nicky Banger, chosen up front alongside Matt Murphy as Malcolm Shotton shuffled his troops, was at the back post five yards out to meet Murphy's left-wing cross in only the second minute. But he couldn't get enough weight on his header and put it wide.

The first five minutes, during which United exerted strong pressure attacking the Cuckoo Lane End, was as good as it got for home supporters.

Grimsby gradually got into the game, with Wayne Burnett influential in midfield and Jack Lester lively in attack, and only Whitehead's brave goalkeeping kept them out.

Lee Ashcroft was first to be denied after exchanging passes with Lester, the keeper stopping his shot with his leg.

Three minutes later, Lester broke clear and again Whitehead used his legs to keep the ball out. Although defending better, United struggled to open up their opponents. A rare first-half chance came when Paul Powell's and his driven cross from the left was palmed into the air by goalkeeper Aidan Davison. It dropped just outside the area to Martin Gray who, with a certain amount of inevitability, drove over the bar.

An outstanding tackle by Gilchrist on Ashcroft when Grimsby's £500,000 signing looked set to score, enabled the U's to go in at half-time level.

In the second half, United supporters tried to lift the team but on the pitch they weren't getting anywhere. There was a lack of movement, undoubtedly caused by a drop in confidence, and when the ball was played to the strikers, they often struggled to hold it up.

And with Joey Beauchamp still not anywhere near the form he showed last season and Dean Windass having his poorest game to date in an Oxford shirt, it was hard to see where a goal might come from.

Windass was substituted midway through the second half - Shotton ordering him to sit on the bench when he tried to slink off down the tunnel - and all three home subs came on without managing to alter proceedings. Whitehead did well to tip a curling 20-yard shot from Burnett around his post and when Grimsby's Paul Groves headed over from six yards there was considerable relief among home supporters.

Many of them were on their way out, however, before the final whistle.

Getting back to a clean sheet after conceding two goals or more in every game is a step in the right direction, but failing to beat a side like Grimsby at home makes United look strong relegation candidates.

Grimsby were happy with a point after their fourth 0-0 draw in six games this season.

And with so many Division 1 games ending deadlocked on Saturday, at least Oxford didn't drop too far behind the main pack.

From somewhere, though, they badly need to find a striker.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.